US4135073A - Device for indicating switch operation by variable illuminating light - Google Patents

Device for indicating switch operation by variable illuminating light Download PDF

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Publication number
US4135073A
US4135073A US05/887,203 US88720378A US4135073A US 4135073 A US4135073 A US 4135073A US 88720378 A US88720378 A US 88720378A US 4135073 A US4135073 A US 4135073A
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United States
Prior art keywords
light
illuminating
switch
movable plate
switch operation
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US05/887,203
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English (en)
Inventor
Mitsuo Kobayashi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tokai Rika Co Ltd
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Tokai Rika Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tokai Rika Co Ltd filed Critical Tokai Rika Co Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4135073A publication Critical patent/US4135073A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/16—Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"
    • H01H9/161—Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off" comprising light emitting elements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to devices for indicating switch operation and more particularly to devices for indicating switch operation by varying illuminating light.
  • a unique device for indicating the operation of a switch by variable light including a switch case, a device for controlling the switch operation provided on the case, a light trnasmitting window provided in the controlling means, an illuminating lamp installed in the switch case for illuminating through the light transmitting window, a moveable plate interposed between the light transmitting window and the illuminating lamp and being actuated in response to the controlling means and a light control aperture provided in the moveable plate for changing the character of the illuminating light through the light transmitting window in accordance with the actuation of the moveable plate.
  • controlling means comprises a knob oscillatingly or slideably provided in the switch and the light control aperture controls the character of the light by changing either the light intensity or the color.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 are longitudinal side sectional views illustrating a device for indicating the operation of a switch in accordance with the teachings of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is an oblique view illustrating a terminal block and moveable contact member in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is an oblique view illustrating a moveable plate in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
  • the device for indicating the operation of a switch includes an oscillating switch A having a switch operation control knob 19 and a switch case 1 formed in the shape of a box at a large depth.
  • the switch case 1 has an insulating plate 2 provided in the bottom thereof. Installed on the insulating plate 2 are a terminal block 3 formed in the shape of a letter U and provided at opposite side walls thereof with support cut-outs 4 and a fixed contact 8 as shown in FIG. 3.
  • a moveable contact member 5 is mounted on the terminal block 3 in such a manner that the contact member 5 is coupled into a space formed between the opposite side walls and projecting wing pieces 6 on the member 5 are coupled to the support cut-outs 4 to thereby ocsillatingly support the contact member 5.
  • a moveable contact 7 formed at the oscillating end of the contact 5 is adapted to be connected or disconnected from the fixed contact 8 so as to form a make or break contact.
  • a socket 10 for an illuminating lamp which is constantly on is inserted into the insulating plate 2 at a portion adjacent to terminal block 3.
  • the switch case 1 is integrally formed with a partition wall 11 disposed downwardly of the upper opening thereof and spaced apart from the insulating plate 2.
  • the partition wall 11 is provided therein with a working hole 12 corresponding to the moveable contact member 5 and with an aperture 13 of a comparatively small diameter.
  • the aperture 13 corresponds to and is directly over the lamp 9.
  • a moveable plate 15 Slideable on the partition wall 11 is provided a moveable plate 15.
  • An engageable hole 16 is provided through the moveable plate 15 and corresponds to the working hole 12.
  • a small aperture 17 corresponding to the aperture 13 is also provided in the moveable plate 15. The aperture 17 is adapted to partially obstruct the aperture 13 (see FIG. 1) or match with the aperture 13 (see FIG. 2).
  • a pivot pin 18 is provided through the switch case 1 at a portion upwardly of the working hole 12.
  • Oscillatingly pivoted on the pivotal pin 18 is a see-saw type knob 19 whose inclined bottom surfaces 20 and 21 alternately contact or settle on the partition wall 11 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the knob 19 is formed at the upper surface thereof with a warp of an obtuse angle.
  • the knob 19 is provided with a light transmitting window 22 corresponding to and directly over the aperture 13.
  • the knob 19 is further provided at a portion downwardly of the pivot pin 18 with an oscillating arm 13 which extends through the working hole 12 in the partition wall 11.
  • the oscillating arm 23 is formed at the bottom face thereof with a blind hole into which a spring 24 and a quick motion engageable element 25 are provided.
  • the quick motion engageable element 25 resiliently contacts the moveable contact member 5.
  • the oscillating arm 23 is inserted through an aperture hole 16 of the moveable plate 15 to engage the moveable plate 15 therewith.
  • the present embodiment may be modified such that the switch case 1 is provided with an upper plate and the knob 19 is adapted to oscillate without interfering with the upper plate.
  • the light transmitting window 12 is formed in the upper plate of the switch case 1.
  • the knob 19 is oscillated as shown in FIG. 2, then due to the movement of the quick motion engageable element 25, the moveable contact 5 is oscillated to thereby affect a switch on action to connect the moveable contact to the fixed contact 8.
  • the moveable plate is moved by the oscillating arm 23 to thereby cause the aperture 17 of the moveable plate 15 to match with the aperture 13 and the lamp 9 illuminates the lamp transmitting window 22 from the inside with a larger volume of light.
  • the moveable plate 15 could be formed with two apertures 17 in such a manner that either one of the two apertures could alternately match with the aperture 13 in the two positions as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the two apertures 17 could be provided with two different colored glasses or lenses to thereby give the light passing therethrough different colors.
  • knob 19 could be so constructed as to slide on the partition wall 11 and the slideable knob 19 could be provided therein with a light transmitting window 22 similar to that described above so that the light volume or the color of the light could be changed.
  • the device for indicating the operation of a switch in accordance with the teachings of the present invention has certain advantages.
  • the illuminating light does not light up or go out depending on the switch operation and the operation of the lamp is indicated either by the light volume or a change in the color of the illuminating lamp
  • such a device in accordance with the teachings of the present invention can be utilized in a comparatively dark place such as a motor vehicle.
  • the switch operation can be definitely indicated by a variable illuminating light and it is easy to know the state of the operation of the switch.

Landscapes

  • Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
  • Tumbler Switches (AREA)
US05/887,203 1977-03-15 1978-03-15 Device for indicating switch operation by variable illuminating light Expired - Lifetime US4135073A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1977031378U JPS53125881U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-03-15 1977-03-15
JP52/31378[U] 1977-03-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4135073A true US4135073A (en) 1979-01-16

Family

ID=12329582

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US05/887,203 Expired - Lifetime US4135073A (en) 1977-03-15 1978-03-15 Device for indicating switch operation by variable illuminating light

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US4135073A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS53125881U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4191873A (en) * 1979-02-26 1980-03-04 Eaton Corporation Illuminated sealed rocker switch
FR2488476A1 (fr) * 1980-07-08 1982-02-12 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Circuits de commande et ensembles de commutation electrique comprenant de tels circuits
USD270439S (en) 1980-04-29 1983-09-06 Lucas Industries Limited Operating member for an electrical switch
USD270440S (en) 1980-04-29 1983-09-06 Lucas Industries, Limited Operating member for an electrical switch
US4775767A (en) * 1985-05-07 1988-10-04 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Illuminative switch assembly
US5188220A (en) * 1990-02-02 1993-02-23 Schmitt Walter Stefan Illuminated push-button switch
USD347211S (en) 1992-01-08 1994-05-24 Square D Company Illuminated indicator wall switch
US5496981A (en) * 1994-07-21 1996-03-05 Sorenson; Richard W. Electrical switch
US5560475A (en) * 1994-12-14 1996-10-01 Brundage; Douglas L. Illuminated rocker buttons with light dams
US5561279A (en) * 1993-12-20 1996-10-01 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Multiple switch assembly including operating knob articulation piece
US5584381A (en) * 1994-12-14 1996-12-17 Chrysler Corporation Illuminated rocker buttons with light dams
US5865301A (en) * 1996-05-13 1999-02-02 Niles Parts Co., Ltd. Construction of knob for a switch
US5903107A (en) * 1996-12-30 1999-05-11 Wade; William G. Lighted switch apparatus
US6013884A (en) * 1997-06-23 2000-01-11 Eaton Corporation Manually actuated electrical switch

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0239314Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1984-12-07 1990-10-22

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2701286A (en) * 1953-12-03 1955-02-01 Moffats Ltd Switch control knob
US3766349A (en) * 1971-11-12 1973-10-16 G Codrino Pushbutton switch, provided with a lighted ideogram

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1665631B1 (de) * 1966-05-09 1972-03-16 Rau Swf Autozubehoer Beleuchtungseinrichtung fuer schalter von fahrzeugen insbesondere von kraftfahrzeugen

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2701286A (en) * 1953-12-03 1955-02-01 Moffats Ltd Switch control knob
US3766349A (en) * 1971-11-12 1973-10-16 G Codrino Pushbutton switch, provided with a lighted ideogram

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4191873A (en) * 1979-02-26 1980-03-04 Eaton Corporation Illuminated sealed rocker switch
WO1980001858A1 (en) * 1979-02-26 1980-09-04 Eaton Corp Illuminated sealed rocker switch
USD270439S (en) 1980-04-29 1983-09-06 Lucas Industries Limited Operating member for an electrical switch
USD270440S (en) 1980-04-29 1983-09-06 Lucas Industries, Limited Operating member for an electrical switch
FR2488476A1 (fr) * 1980-07-08 1982-02-12 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Circuits de commande et ensembles de commutation electrique comprenant de tels circuits
US4775767A (en) * 1985-05-07 1988-10-04 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Illuminative switch assembly
US5188220A (en) * 1990-02-02 1993-02-23 Schmitt Walter Stefan Illuminated push-button switch
USD347211S (en) 1992-01-08 1994-05-24 Square D Company Illuminated indicator wall switch
US5561279A (en) * 1993-12-20 1996-10-01 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Multiple switch assembly including operating knob articulation piece
US5496981A (en) * 1994-07-21 1996-03-05 Sorenson; Richard W. Electrical switch
US5560475A (en) * 1994-12-14 1996-10-01 Brundage; Douglas L. Illuminated rocker buttons with light dams
US5584381A (en) * 1994-12-14 1996-12-17 Chrysler Corporation Illuminated rocker buttons with light dams
US5865301A (en) * 1996-05-13 1999-02-02 Niles Parts Co., Ltd. Construction of knob for a switch
US5903107A (en) * 1996-12-30 1999-05-11 Wade; William G. Lighted switch apparatus
US6013884A (en) * 1997-06-23 2000-01-11 Eaton Corporation Manually actuated electrical switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS53125881U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1978-10-06

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